Postprandial glucose is the concentration of glucose in the blood after eating a meal. If it is significantly elevated, it could be a sign of developing diabetes or poorly treated diabetes in diabetics. Conversely, a significantly lowered blood sugar level after a meal may indicate a reactive hypoglycemia. What are the norms for postprandial glycemia and what are the dangerous consequences for he alth of unbalanced glycemia?

Postprandial Glucose(Postprandial Glucose - PPG) is the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood after you eat a meal. In he althy people, glucose levels begin to rise approximately 10 minutes after starting a meal, reaching a maximum level after approximately 60 minutes and returning to pre-meal values ​​within 2-3 hours.

Postprandial glucose - norms . What is an abnormal blood glucose test?

According to the standards established by the World He alth Organization (WHO), in he althy people the maximum blood glucose concentration two hours after a meal should be no more than 140 mg / dl (7.8 mmol / l).

If the result is 140-199 mg / dL (7.8-11.1 mmol / L), it means postprandial hyperglycemia .And a blood sugar ≥ 200 mg / dL (11.1 mmol / L) two hours after a meal suggests diabetes.

There may also be postprandial reactive hypoglycaemia, i.e. hypoglycaemia, which is observed when the blood glucose level 4 hours after eating a meal is lower than 50 mg / dl (2.8 mmol / l). This value was determined by the Polish Diabetes Society. According to the American Diabetes Association, this limit is 70 mg / dL (3.9 mmol / L).

CHECK>>Hypoglycaemia - symptoms, causes, treatment

It is worth knowing that in he althy people the normal fasting glucose concentration (after an 8-14-hour fasting period at night) is 70-99 mg / dl (3.9-5.5 mmol / l). However, if your blood test shows 100-125 mg / dL (5.6-6.9 mmol / L), you are talking about abnormal fasting blood glucose. Conversely, fasting glucose values ​​≥126 mg / dL (7.0 mmol / L) suggest diabetes.

normahypoglycemiahyperglycemiadiabetes
Fasting blood glucose

70-99mg / dL (3.9-5.5 mmol / L)

normal fasting blood glucose

<55 mg/dl (2,8mmol/l)

100-125 mg / dL (5.6-6.9 mmol / L)

abnormal fasting blood glucose

≥126 mg / dL (7.0 mmol / L)
postprandial glycemia

<140 mg/dl (7,8 mmol/l)

normal glucose tolerance

<55 mg/dl (2,8mmol/l)

postprandial reactive hypoglycemia

140-199 mg / dL (7.8-11.1 mmol / L)

abnormal glucose tolerance

≥ 200 mg / dL (11.1 mmol / L)

In order to diagnose diabetes, it is necessary to test the blood sugar level twice.

Source: Clinical guidelines for the management of diabetics 2014. Statement of the Polish Diabetes Society.

Postprandial glucose - valid glucose control

Postprandial hyperglycemia is a common metabolic disorder in people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. It causes many abnormalities and pathological processes, leading to progressive damage to cells, tissues and organs. Therefore, a very important element of the proper treatment of diabetes is the daily control of blood sugar, i.e. glycemia.

Thanks to this, the effectiveness of non-pharmacological treatment (diet and exercise) and the use of drugs can be assessed. If the results are abnormal, consider changing your diet or medication. Effective treatment of diabetes should improve postprandial glycemia, reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia, balance diabetes well and help maintain a he althy body weight.

Good diabetes control is a condition in which blood glucose levels are kept within the range closest to normal, i.e.

long-term type 2 diabetesshort-term type 2 diabetes and type 1 diabetes
Fasting and pre-meal glucose levels70-110 mg / dL (3.9-6.1 mmol / L)70-110 mg / dL (3.9-6.1 mmol / L) 0
glycemia 2 hours after a meal<160 mg/dl (8,6 mmol/l)<140 mg/dl (7,8 mmol/l

Source: Polish Diabetes Society

Achieving these results makes it possible to avoid late complications of diabetes.

Consequences of decompensated blood glucose levels

In people with diabetes, persistently high blood glucose levels (especially after meals) may lead to acute and chronic diabetes complications. There are risks associated with hyperglycemia:

Ok. 70-80 percent diabetics die of cardiovascular disease, the most seriouschronic complications of diabetes.

  • damage to small blood vessels - the retina of the eye (retinopathy) - contributing to visual impairment, and kidneys (nephropathy) - contributing to their failure;
  • damage to large blood vessels leading to the development of coronary artery disease and infarction, cerebrovascular disease and stroke, vascular disease of the lower limbs and diabetic foot.
  • nerve damage - sensory, motor and other;
  • hyperlipidemia;
  • joint diseases;
  • skin diseases;
  • cognitive impairment in elderly people with type 2 diabetes;
  • cancer;

The risk of these diseases is influenced not only by the elevated glucose concentration itself, but also by the rate of its increase, duration, genetic predisposition and the influence of other risk factors, such as, among others, overweight, high blood pressure (over 160 mmHg ) and smoking.

In the event of a hypoglycaemia, a drop in blood sugar below 40 mg / dl may result in a hypoglycaemic coma.

Category:

Diabetes